An International Conference “Critical Women: Women as Agents of Change through Higher Education" organized by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the Centre for Gender Studies University of Kelaniya (CGSUK) was held from March 6 to 8 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This is the first conference organized by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the newly set up Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya to explore a number of key equity, educational and development issues from an essentially gendered perspective.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Centre for Gender Studies, University of Kelaniya, wish to record with gratitude the sponsorship and support which was so generously provided to our conference by BT Options, Sri Lanka - and, in particular, the graciousness of Mr Mathi Parthipan and Ms Glenda Parthipan.